Garchitorena councilor assumes vice mayoralty

GARCHITORENA, Camarines Sur—Councilor Nonoy Simando has assumed the position of vice mayor of this town earlier this week following the suspension of elected Vice Mayor Jesse Gianan.

In an interview with BICOL STANDARD, Simando said his assumption is in line with the Rules of Succession under the Local Government Code.

Councilor Nonoy SimandoPhoto: LGU Garchitorena

It would be recalled that Gianan was suspended after he was found guilty of an administrative charge for failing to provide a copy of a Sangguniang Bayan resolution to Mayor Jesus Rico Sarmiento.
In July, Gianan was served a preventive suspension order.

Acting vice mayor Simando, who is also the topnotcher councilor in the most recent polls, said he is deeply saddened by the turn of events.

"Dapat kuta an mga opisyal iyo an maray na modelo," he remarked in relation to the suspension.
Regardless, he said he obliged by law to comply with the aforementioned Rules, otherwise he will have to face a complaint himself.

In the same interview, Simando said his leadership so far focused on the town's development, including the identification of several areas in Garchitorena that have tourism potenial. He also led the training of barangay officials and other Local Government Unit (LGU) employees for the same endeavor.

This, he said, he accomplished despite being in the minority in the Sanggunian.

Simando said he is seeking the help of the constituents as he takes office as vice mayor.—BICOLSTANDARD.COM